The liturgy that we used for our children, adapted from some of the Seeds (http://www.seeds.org.au) liturgies.

As _____’s parents, we thank God for such a precious gift. In front of our family, we accept both the joys and duties of parenthood, promising to love and care for her, and provide a stable and loving home, enabling _____ to grow and flourish. We realize the privilege and responsibility that are ours as her parents, and we are prepared to commit ourselves, with God’s help, to the task of raising ____ to follow the Lord Jesus. We promise to raise her within the Christian community and to teach her our own faith by both instruction and example - showing her God at work in us.

Community Prayer: Urban Seed has developed three themes that underpin its faith and practice; growing a sense of home, knowing the word of God, and being sent to engage with the world around us. These are themes we share and want to affirm as desires for ____’s life today and always. We ask you to join with us in praying a prayer of promise that is shaped around these themes. If you can affirm what is prayed we invite you to respond when I say “Lord hear us,” by saying “Lord hear our prayer.”

May we grow home - (Holding up a packet of Seeds and bowl)

God our holy community of gracious hospitality, in the midst of our restless wandering you extend us an invitation to Grow Home. Help us to raise ______ to know and to grow a rich sense of home. Let us teach her the danger of wealth and the freedom of economic sharing. May the poor always be with her. Teach her the power and beauty of her body; fidelity with your wild creativity and respect for the sacred connections of your Spirit, our bodies and all creation. Teach her how to eat slowly so that her eyes may be opened to your presence through the breaking of bread. Guide her in her use of power, teaching her the art of mutual servanthood. May she, like Jesus, know her family as those who do the will of God. Lord hear us. All: Lord hear our prayer

May we Know the Word - Holding up the Bible May we raise _____ to know the stories of a God who re-creates and redeems a fallen world, not mere ancient words on a page but the living Spirit of Christ among us. Teach her how to choose her stories and story her choices; how to spin a life giving yarn and to listen for your voice in silence and Sabbath rest. Teach her to meditate and pray so that she may experience your love and cling to hope in the midst of failure, suffering and adversity. May she be immersed in and embody the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lord hear us. All: Lord hear our prayer

May we Go Engage - Holding up the bottle of oil May we raise ______ with the confidence to engage our troubled world. To speak truth to the powers and to each of us. To name and cast out that which is evil in our world and within, through active, creative nonviolence. Teach her the arts of hospitality, mercy and forgiveness. Teach her the good work of love as the only true measure of success. And because each of us will fail her, in the midst of our brokenness, may she know and share your healing power; your gracious hospitality to us. Lord hear us All:Lord hear our prayer

May we teach her all this but also not forget to learn from her, because the reign of God belongs to such as these. Amen

Open prayer for _______

_________, we value you for nothing but who you are as a child of God. For you Jesus Christ has come, has lived, has suffered; for you he endured the agony of Gethsemane and the darkness of the cross. For you, he has triumphed over death through resurrection; for you he prays at God’s right hand; all for you, little child, even though you do not know it. For this reason we make the sign of the cross over you, that you might share in Christ’s life, death and resurrection. _______, may the Lord prepare your heart and soul and mind to love the LORD your God and to love your neighbour as yourself, to the glory of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.